Nemesia plant named ‘Kirine-34’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Kirine-34’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; large bright yellow-colored flowers; relatively tolerant to high temperatures; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Nemesia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KIRINE-34’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia,botanically known as Nemesia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Kirine-34’.

The new Nemesia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Tochigi, Japan, The objective of the breeding program isto create new Nemesia cultivars with good vigor and attractive flowercoloration.

The new Nemesia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin February, 2005 in Tochigi, Japan of the Nemesia hybrida cultivarAromatica Compact White, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith the Nemesia strumosa cultivar Sundrop Yellow, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Nemesia was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Tochigi, Japanin October, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nemesia by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Tochigi, Japan since November, 2005, has shownthat the unique features of this new Nemesia are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Kirine-34 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kirine-34’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Kirine-34’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofNemesia:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded growth        habit.    -   2. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.    -   3. Large bright yellow-colored flowers.    -   4. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Nemesia differ from plants of the female parent, thecultivar Aromatica Compact White, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nemesia are larger than plants of the        cultivar Aromatica Compact White.    -   2. Plants of the new Nemesia have larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Aromatica Compact White.    -   3. Plants of the new Nemesia and the cultivar Aromatica Compact        White differ in flower color as plants of the cultivar Aromatic        Compact White have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nemesia differ from plants of the male parent, thecultivar Sundrop Yellow, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nemesia are larger than plants of the        cultivar Sundrop Yellow.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are fragrant whereas        flowers of plants of the cultivar Sundrop Yellow are not        fragrant.    -   3. Plants of the new Nemesia are more tolerant to high        temperatures than plants of the cultivar Sundrop Yellow.

Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of the cultivarKirine-1, disclosed to U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,267. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted by the Inventor in Tochigi, Japan, plants of thenew Nemesia differed from plants of the cultivar Kirine-1 in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nemesia were more mounding than plants of        the cultivar Kirine-1.    -   2. Plants of the new Nemesia had shorter internodes than plants        of the cultivar Kirine-1.    -   3. Plants of the new Nemesia and the cultivar Kirine-1 differed        in flower color as plants of the cultivar Kirine-1 had lighter        yellow-colored flowers.    -   4. Plants of the new Nemesia were more high temperature tolerant        than plants of the cultivar Kirine-1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Nemesia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Nemesia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Kirine-34’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘Kirine-34’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photographs and following description were grown underconditions which closely approximate commercial production conditionsduring the spring in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Santa Paula,Calif. for about 13 weeks in containers. During the production of theplants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged12° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 foot-candles. Plantswere pinched one time about two weeks after planting.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia caerulea cultivar Kirine-34.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Nemesia caerulea cultivar Aromatica            Compact White, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Nemesia strumosa cultivar Sundrop            Yellow, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and            uniformly mounded growth habit. Freely branching; about ten            primary branches per plant and numerous secondary branches.            Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 16 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Scattered pubescence.        -   Color.—147B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Slightly serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 146B.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 146A; venation, 146A.            Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 146B; venation, 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Zygomorphic solitary flowers            arranged on terminal racemes; flowering acropetally towards            the apex. Flowers bilabiate. Flowers face upright and            outwardly. Flowers last about five to seven days on the            plant. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering habit with            about 12 to 14 flowers per raceme.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; floral.        -   Natural flowering season.—In California, plants flower from            early spring to fall; flowering continuous during this            period.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm by 5.5 cm.        -   Flower height.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm to 7 mm. Color: 10D.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals; four upper petals are            fused at base to form an upright lobed and arched banner            lip; lower petal modified into a larger lip with convex oval            protuberance with serves as a pollinator nectar guide and            landing platform. Shape: Oval to rounded. Apex: Rounded.            Margin: Entire; lower lip, slightly sinnuate. Length: Upper            petals: About 1.2 cm to 1.4 cm. Lower petal: About 1.5 cm.            Width: Upper petals: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Lower petal: About            2.2 cm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, upper and lower petals: When opening, upper surface:            17B. When opening, lower surface: 16D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Upper petals, 23A; nectar guides at the base, 96D;            lower petal, 23A; protuberance, 25A. Fully opened, lower            surface: 16C.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Calyx star-shaped with five sepals            fused at the base. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Scattered pubescence. Color: 146A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Four per            flower. Filament length: About 1.5 mm to 4 mm. Filament            color: 155D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than            1 mm. Anther color: 17A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: 162A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 2 mm. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:            145C. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 145B. Ovary            color: 146B. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not            been observed on plants of the new Nemesia.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Nemesia have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Nemesia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Nemesia have been observed to    tolerate wind and rain and have good garden performance.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Nemesia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 28° C.

1. A new and distinct Nemesia plant named ‘Kirine-34’ as illustrated anddescribed.